Freedom of Expression Tracker: Detained

Police arrest five journalists

Incident Ref:

ZW2706/16-7435

Incident category:

detained

Date of incident:

27 June 2016

Perpetrator / Facilitator:

Police

The journalists who were detained at Harare Central Police Station were later released without charges on the same day after MISA-Zimbabwe dispatched Media Lawyers Network lawyer Obey Shava to secure their release.

MISA Stance:

MISA-Zimbabwe condemns in the strongest terms the unlawful arrests of journalists conducting their lawful professional duties.
The police’s wanton actions of impunity are blatantly unconstitutional given that the journalists in question are duly accredited by the Zimbabwe Media Commission which is a constitutional body.
This comes barely a week after police arrested journalist Paidamoyo Muzulu who was covering protests by activists who were conducting a vigil in Harare’s Africa Unity Square.